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The majority of the dinosaurs that we are familiar with that were carnivores had scales. These were massive beasts that engaged in hunting other animals for their daily sustenance. Some of these dinosaurs were known to be bipedal. This means that for the most part the walked about on two feet (or paws). Overall, http://www.bestchoicetv.com/, evidence has shown that the majority of carnivorous dinosaurs were scaled. There has been some evidence that these dinosaurs had what is referred to as proto feathers. This is a type of pre feather growth that existed within the scales of the dinosaurs’ body. Who Knows? If the dinosaurs had lived long these proto-feathers may have actually manifested themselves into feathers. Some fossils have been found that were believed to have feathers. Two such examples are the Caudipteryx and the Protarchaeopteryx. Both these dinosaurs were small in size and they are both believed to be the predicessor of the modern day ostrich. These were not believed to be carnivores though. So, in answer to this querry, no dinosaur that is known or said to be a carnivore had feathers. Dinosaurs were primarily a breed of scaled animals. They fed off of plants and some fed off of other dinosaurs. More info here: New dinosaur discoveries ruffle feathers

Students with an interest in dinosaurs, those who are curious about the history of past geological ages and anyone with a passion about this subject would do well to find and make use of the best educational tools and resources available. Learning more about the animals that roamed the Earth millions of years before the first humans appeared can be a very fascinating and rewarding undertaking. With access to the best sites, educational resources and other learning opportunities that are available, discovering the world of the dinosaurs can be accomplished far more easily and successfully then Read the rest of this entry »

Saurischian, or lizard-hipped, dinosaurs are divided into two suborders: The theropods and the sauropods. Although these suborders share basic pelvic anatomy, they are very different from each other in other aspects.

Theropods were completely carnivorous. They had huge heads, big teeth and strong jaws for chewing prey. The most famous theropod is probably the Tyrannosaurus rex, whose strong legs, powerful tail and tiny arms are typical of the suborder. Like Tyrannosaurus rex, theropods were bipedal and could not walk on Read the rest of this entry »

About two months ago, I subscribed to DIRECTV via www.cable.tv. While I’ve never really been a person who loves watching television in the past, I can’t get enough of all the new programming – particularly on the History Channel, National Geographic Channel and Discovery Channel.

Much to my delight, last week happened to be “Dino Week” on Discovery Channel, and I was reintroduced to my favorite childhood dinosaur – Stegosaurus.

Stegosaurus means “roof lizard” or “covered lizard” because of the bony plates lining its spine. Growing up to 30 feet in length and weighing about four tons, the Stegosaurus roamed the Earth during the Late Jurassic period – about 155-150 million years ago.

Interestingly, although Stegosaurus was about the size of a school bus, its head was tiny – about the size of a horse’s head – and its brain was only the size of a walnut. When this dinosaur was first discovered in 1877, scientists were baffled by the fact that such a massive creature could have such a tiny brain. Consequently, Othniel C. Marsh, a renowned 19th century paleontologist, theorized that a second brain existed in the Stegosaurus’ rump, which, presumptively, helped the giant lizard control the rear part of its body.

However, that theory has largely been dismissed by modern experts. A more accepted explanation is that the cavity in the Stegosaurus’ tail was used to store excess food in the form of glycogen.

There were many Prehistoric swimming marine reptiles that were not dinosaurs but rather called Plesiosaurs. These were the turtle like creatures that swam in the seas while the Dinosaurs roamed the land. They were a precursor to turtles in that their bodies looked just like turtles, but they had paddle, flipper like extremities instead of the more rounded feet that turtles today have. The Plesiosaurs probably laid eggs on the shores of sand beaches, just as many marine turtle species do in the Read the rest of this entry »

A scientific examination of the fossil record can produce a wealth of data that is of much interest to the field of biology. Studying the evolution and development of different species over a geologic age has given us a window into the ways life has developed. Applying what we have learned to contemporary biology affords us a greater understanding of the world around us.

Learning about the different species from prehistoric times gives us insight into the development of certain species today. Prehistoric documentation tells us that Pterosaurs were winged creatures that flew the skies. However, there are some very pronounced differences between them and our modern birds.

Modern birds walk upright on two legs while on land. It is believed that the Pterosaurs used four limbs to walk on land. Pterosaurs were more of a lizard like creature, unlike the feathered birds we see today. The name means winged lizard.

Dinosaurs excite people of any age and almost anyone can recognize some of the most famous species such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. Yet, there is still much more for people to learn about dinosaurs to fully understand and appreciate their existence.

One question that is often asked is whether bipedal or quadrupedal dinosaurs had the advantage. The true answer, while much more complex, is that neither had much more advantage over the other. For example, bipedal dinosaurs had different body styles such that their weight distribution had to be different. Read the rest of this entry »

The majority of the dinosaurs that we are familiar with that were carnivores had scales. These were massive beasts that engaged in hunting other animals for their daily sustenance. Some of these dinosaurs were known to be bipedal. This means that for the most part the walked about on two feet (or paws). Overall, evidence has shown that the majority of carnivorous dinosaurs were scaled.